The NDIS Practice Standards (updated as of 15 November 2021) are designed to ensure that providers deliver the highest quality supports to NDIS participants.
In essence, they’re the benchmark against which providers should assess their performance, and demonstrate how they provide high quality and safe supports and services.
Together with the NDIS Code of Conduct, the Standards should give some insight into what quality service provision looks and feels like and, hence, what you should expect from your provider(s).
Released by the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission, it’s a hefty document, which we’ve sought to distil into a few key takeaways.
What’s the point of the Standards?
The Standards set out the key responsibilities for providers, and specifically what quality indicators auditors will be on the lookout for when they’re inspecting.
They’ve been designed to maximise, as much as reasonably possible, the capacity for people with disabilities to take control of their lives.
That means you must be at the centre of service design, planning, delivery and review. With individuals shaping and directing service and support arrangements to suit their strengths, needs and goals with the support of families, friends, carers and advocates.
What are the NDIS Practice Standards?
Specifically, providers must:
- Provide individualised supports
- Respect the different values of individuals
- Uphold privacy and confidentiality
- Facilitate independence
- Allow free and informed choice
- Prevent abuse, neglect and discrimination
Quality indicators
When auditors inspect service providers, they’ll be looking for evidence of compliance in the following areas:
- Upholding each participant’s legal and human rights
- Communication is carried out in a transparent and respectful manner
- Privacy and dignity are considered paramount
- Individual choice is supported
- Robust policies and procedures that prevent discrimination or abuse
- Reportable incidents are immediately followed up
You can read the Standards in detail here. But if you have specific questions, relating to Love2Live, please don’t hesitate to ask the team.
